Stars season ends in semi-final

The Melbourne Stars has suffered a seven-wicket loss to the Perth Scorchers in their Semi-Final match at the WACA tonight, ending their BBL|06 season.

Score

Perth Scorchers 3-139 def. Melbourne Stars 8-136 by 7 wickets

Summary

Losing the toss and sent into bat, our boys did not get off to a great start, with the Scorchers’ Mitch Johnson having an absolute blinder of a spell.

Bobby and Wrighty were both sent back to the bench for ducks in the first over, with KP following for five in the fifth over, all at the hands of Johnson.

Stoin also went for five in the next over, with Gotchy and Huss then building a good partnership to try and get the boys to a defendable total. The Hussler finished his knock with 26 off 20 balls, followed by the Gobbler with nine and Gotchy in the 18th over just short of a half-century with 48.

Hilfy and Franky Worrall made cameos in the last couple of overs, making 10 and 13* respectively, with Bolo also adding 8* to help the team to a total of 136.

Needing to snag the Scorchers’ danger hitters early to stay in the game, Franky Worrall was the first to strike, sending Klinger on his way for just seven runs in his first game for #TeamGreen this season.

Whiteman followed in the ninth over for 31, caught by the Gobbler, with Stoin then catching Voges for 13 three overs later.

But it was the strong hitting of Shaun Marsh that proved too good for our boys, finishing with 56 off 44 balls and powering the Scorchers to the win.

The Moment

On a night with a batting innings that just did not go to plan, Hilfy was able to hit the biggest six of the night and had everyone cheering. Facing just his second ball, Hilfy loaded up to smash the ball 93 metres. It went so far and so high that the umpires even had to get out a new ball.

The Player

The Scorchers were all over us in our batting innings and with our top three batsmen falling for just five runs, we were in real strife. But Gotchy really stood up when we desperately needed it and in only his third game in a Stars uniform, he fell just short of a half-century. Finishing with 48 off 47 balls, Gotchy hit three fours and three sixes to steer the ship back on track and help us to a competitive total. It was an impressive and bold knock from the youngster in a forgetful batting innings.